Enoch among top recruits still high on UConn's list

William S. Paxton

Updated 7:58 pm, Saturday, August 9, 2014

NEW YORK -- They gathered under the hoop at one end of the floor inside Gauchos Gym, swapping stories, sharing some laughs and grabbing rebounds.

Some of the top forwards and centers in high school basketball conducted their version of a coffee klatch Friday morning prior to their practice for the Big Strick Classic in the Bronx.

Steve Enoch worked his way in and out of the social circle, popping outside to hoist a few 3-pointers before wandering back to the pack. A 6-foot-10 forward who can knock down shots from the perimeter and bang the boards is a hot commodity for college coaches.

UConn remains in the hunt for the former Norwalk High star who will play at St. Thomas More this winter. Former Husky and USA National Team hopeful Andre Drummond attended the same prep school and was coached by Enoch's AAU coach, George Matthews, growing up.

"We have an official visit, I think it's planned for September, along with a couple other colleges," said Enoch, 16, who seems to attract a new college seeking his services every time he fires up another 3-pointer.

"It's nice because (coach Kevin Ollie) was in the NBA a very long time and he was a really good player," Enoch added.

"He knows about basketball and he's a good coach -- a great coach."

Enoch took an unofficial visit to UConn in June, but is also generating interest from Memphis, Oregon, VCU, Virginia and Providence among others.

Enoch was not the only player at the Big Strick, which played its all-star game Saturday afternoon at Gauchos Gym, with a strong impression of UConn and Ollie.

Dwayne Bacon, a 6-6 swingman from Oak Hill Academy (Va.), has a growing interest in the Huskies after running into them at various camps last month during the open period for recruiting.

"They watched me a lot in July, so that showed me that they want me," said Bacon, who has yet to visit the Storrs campus. "We've talked multiple times between the weeks, so there's a good communication between everybody."

The Huskies, coming off a national championship run, continue to stir interest from recruits, but Ollie remains the key component in the school's appeal.

"It's a great experience because he just won a national championship, but it's different because he's upfront with you," said Bacon, who has also drawn interest from Florida State, Tennessee, UNLV, USC, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Georgetown and Louisville. "He tells you what plans he has for you when you are coming in and it's just a great experience coming from a national championship coach."

The frontcourt is not quite as deep, but the Huskies are in the hunt for some top talent there such as Enoch, Diamond Stone, Chance Comanche and Carlton Bragg, who was also at the Big Strick.

"Not yet, but I'm planning on it," Bragg said about visiting Storrs.

Among the schools the 6-8 power forward, from Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Ohio), is looking at are Kansas, Kentucky, Arizona, Ohio State and Illinois.

He plans to cut his list to five schools on Sept. 1, and said a school could make the list even if he hasn't visited it yet.

"The way they develop players, they just came off a national championship and it's a good school," said Bragg, about the appeal of UConn. "(Kevin) is open, he loves his players and he treats them like a family. And I love his coaching style."